DWN partners with software gurus

DWN partners with software gurus

Dairy Women's Network is excited to announce it has signed on two new professional partners who have the potential to revolutionise its members' accounting systems and overall farming businesses.

Online accounting software companies Xero and Figured have just signed on as Network partners and DWN chief executive Zelda de Villiers said the Network is excited by the potential benefits members will receive through the partnership with workshops offered to its membership.

"We are very excited to have Xero and Figured on board, because these two companies are providing innovative solutions and technology to farm businesses as well as other New Zealand businesses," she said.

"DWN prides itself on its ability to connect dairying women with leaders in the industry, leaders in the business world, and with one another, so they are able to better their practices and ultimately, the industry.

"It is partners like Xero and Figured, and our other carefully selected professional partners, that ensure that happens to the highest standard."

Silver partner Xero introduced the 'Farming in the Cloud' solution about 18 months ago, which brought real time, single ledger reporting to the farm for the first time.

The solution allows farmers and their accountants, banks and rural service companies to work together from the same set of online, real-time data, and provides one centralised home for key accounting and farm management tools.

"At Xero we believe in empowering businesses to help them be more successful," said Xero NZ managing director Victoria Crone.

"We are delighted to be working closely with DWN and businesswomen who are managing farms throughout New Zealand.

"These businesswomen are leaders in their field and Xero is proud to be supporting them with the right tools and functionality to allow them to achieve greater business clarity so they can run their farming businesses even more efficiently."

Key to the success of 'Farming in the Cloud' was a growing ecosystem of farming software partners that are fully integrated with Xero's online platform, which is where Figured comes in.

Bronze partner Figured is also an online software programme that provides farmers with a better way to financially manage their operation through its farm budgeting and forecasting tool.

When purchases, sales or stock quantities are entered into Figured, an invoice is sent to Xero that automatically matches the payment when it appears in the bank.

Further to this, milk production information feeds in directly from Fonterra, as well as immediate payout updates when changes occur.

"Figured is passionate about improving the business of farming, which is why it makes sense to partner with DWN," said Figure's head of rural Sophie Stanley.

"We know that many women play a crucial role in the financial management of farming businesses, so providing them with tools that save them time and give them access to real time information for making decisions is essential to a successful business and a balanced family life."